Sewer rod power



April 1s, 1939.

H. R. CRANE SEWER Ron POWER Filed Dec. l, 1957 /Wwewi 72, y

Patented Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE a claims.

This invention is an apparatus for scraping, cleaning or otherwiseworking in sewer lines, pipe and conduit systems or other organizationsin which there may be bores or passageways tending to become clogged orfouled from various environmental or incidental causes.

Because of the resistance frequently met in the cleaning of sewer linesit is very desirable that a practical. motor-powered apparatus beprovided for the rapid, eiicient and safe rotation and advance of aiiexible-rod sewer working tool into and along the bore of the sewer,and this object is met by the invention herein set out.

Further, an object is to provide a motorlii powered means for rotativelydriving the flexible rod at a speed of practical rate far in advance ofthat which is possible by manual effort.

More particularly, a purpose ofthe invention is to provide apower-take-oif plant o'r unit which will serve to rotate the rod and itsbore working tool head at l.several of selective speeds according to thework in hand and the type of tool head employed on the iiexible rod.Another object is to provide a combined portable, wheeled vehicularpower unit and exible-rod tool and a mechanically driven rod sectioncoupler, with means wherebyto manually control the drive of the coupler,and to provide for change of Yrate of rotation thereof.

Additionally, an object is to provide a power plant including a primemotor in combination with means whereby the tool may be rotated atspeeds much less than that of the motor shaft so that the motor may beoperated at its most eillcient speed, and to enable to employ arelatively small motor in the outfit for economy in several aspects.

Also, an object is to provide for avoiding the direct attachment of thetool rod to the shaft of the motor so that this is protected againstserious strains to its bearings incident to the whipping of such rodswhile at work.

The invention consists in certain advancements in this art as set forthin the ensuing disclosure and having, with the above, additional objectsand advantages as hereinafter developed, and whose construction,combination and details of means, and the manner of operation will bemade manifest in the description of the annexed illustrative embodiment;it being understood that modifications, variations and adaptations maybe resorted to within the scope, principle and spirit of the inventionas it is more directly claimed hereinbelow. Figure 1 is a plan of a formof the apparatus (Cl. l5-104.30)

incorporating the invention. Figure 2 is a rear i or handle-end view ofthe plant. Figure 3 is sectional detail of one of the coupler-driving,power take-ofi' sleeves of the apparatus.

The present combination includes, and is in- 5 tended for the rotationof, a sectional, flexible rod 2 to the forward or working end of whichis attachable one or another of various types of bore working tool headssuch as an auger 3, and which when cutting into detritus in the borewill l0 advance and pull the rod 2. The rod is of the type having hookedends 4 for driving interlock with respective double-end couplers 5 whichare designed for application of divers torque-effort metrica] hole 6 forthe reception of a pin 1.

It has been generally the practice to turn the rod 2 by hand power butthis does not enable operation of the rod'at most eilicient speeds,

nor is it always possible to advance the' tool in 20 the bore withvdesired facility and safety.

In the present invention the rod driving coupler pin 'I is shown asfastened in a mechanically driven hollow shaft or sleeve 8.

This sleeve 8 is turnably mounted in suitable 25 bearings 9 of anappropriate frame I carrying a small prime motor I I; the frame and themotor beingv rigidly fixed to a hollow axle i2 having an extensible endsection I3 forming a chassis on wheels I4. 30

The shaft section I3 is adjusted in'the axle I2 for extension of itswheel to an outward degree to give desired stability to the plant whiledriving the rod 2, and fastened by a pin or key I5. 35

Fixed on the drive sleeve is a' large gear I6 constantly meshing with apinion I'I fixed on a shaft I8 journaled in theframe Iii and having atits rear end a fixed change speed pulley I9 to which power istransmitted as by 40 a belt 20 from a change speed pulley 2l xed on themotor shaft 22. By'shifting thev belt from one step of the shaft pulley2i to another the speed of the intermediate pulley 'I9 may be readilyvaried as desired according to the work. 45

A device is provided to control the drive from the motor shaft 22 to theintermediate shaft I 8 and as shown includes a lever 2l pivoted at 26 onthe frame I0 and having a toe 21 engaging an arm 28 pivoted on-shaft I8,or otherwise 50 as desired, and carrying at its swinging end a presserroller 29 which is depressed by the lever 24 against the belt 20 withsufficient force to cause the belt to drive the pulley I9 and its shaftIl; .the lever being interlockable with a 55 rack segment 2l to hold thedriving relation. If it is desired to stop rotation of the shaft il andits related coupling driving sleeve l, and the hitched rod 2, the lever2l is shifted to release pressure of the roller 2l on belt-2l to loosenit without drive on the, pulley II. A

Thus the rod driving sleeve 2 is driven at a speed very much below thatof the motor shaft 22.

A further change of speed of rotation of the nexible rod 2 is madeavailable in the apparatus by the provision of a rocking bearing 32pivoted at 32 on the side of frame il in a positionV parallel to theaxis of the pinion pulley 2i of shaft 22. Rotatively mounted in thebearing 22 is an elongate hollow shaft or sleeve t* for reception of andin which may bepinned a drive coupler l of a rod 2 as above set forth asto shaft I. Y

On one end of the sleeve 2l there is secured a change speed or steppedpulley 24 .to receive a complementary belt, as belt 2l, rove theretofrom the pinion pulley 2 l. The bearing 22 is connected y by a link 3lto the lever 2l and when this is in the sleeve; it being understood thatin such drive hook-up the transmission shaft Il will be out ofcommission.

Shaft il. is shown as hollow and this may be adapted for receiving andpinning a rod driving coupler l if so desired, thus affording stillanothe speed or rod rotation.

The purpose of mounting the power plant on the wheeled chassis I2-il isto enable the motor to be advanced toward the bore in which the toolhead maybe working and for this function the chassis is provided with` asuitable handle Il. Also a rearward leg 21 is provided for standing thechassis at rest, with or without operation of the motor.

s,v1s4,eeef

Itwillbeseen thattherodmayhaveadditional sections added to either endprojecting from the drive sleeve I without disturbing they drive couplerpinned in the drive sleeve.

When the rod 2 is driven by means ofthe transy mission and sleeve t* itcan be interrupted at will and -the sleeve stopped by throwing the lever2l to the left and this not only will slack the appliedbelt (dottedlines, Fig. 2) to reduce the speed oi' rod rotation to the extentdesired, but ii' the lever is pushed away far enough the pulley 34 willswing into stopping engagementv and through which the rod is axiallyshiftableand having means positively locking with an interposed couplingto rotate it.

2. A sewer rod apparatus having, in combination, a sectional flexiblerod, a couplingv device in which one end of the rod is co-rotativelyattached, and a power driven sleeve in which said device isco-rotatively fixed by a positive. interlocking key mounted in thesleeve.

3. In a sewer rod driving machine, a power transmission., a rodi drivingmember rotaldve thereby. and a rod coupling device co-rotativelyconnected to said drive member by a positive drive key carried by saidmember and a oomplementary rod end positively interlocking with thecoupling for co-rotation; said member oonsisting of a sleeve in whichthe coupling is axially mountedfor interlocknwith the key.

` HUBERT n. cam.

